Simon Fraser University Athletics

Debbie Brill was a Canadian high jumper and at age 16 became the first North American woman to clear 6 feet. A kinesiology student at SFU, Debbie revolutionized the event with her unprecedented reverse jumping style, named the “Brill Bend”.  
 

Born in Mission, BC, Debbie started competing provincially at age 13 and two years later was competing internationally for Canada. She won gold medals at the 1970 Commonwealth Games and the 1971 Pan American Games and competed at the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics. She was the No. 1 ranked high jumper in the world in 1980 when Canada boycotted the Moscow Olympics. 
 

Throughout her career Debbie won over 65 national and international meets and she set the world indoor record with a jump of 1.99 metres in 1982.